IR Blog Post 1-Politico

Stevens explains death penalty view

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45646.html

3 facts:

1. Stevens worked at the court for 35 years before he retired but he came back.

2. Stevens think that the death penalty is unconstitutional because it concerns the problems of racism and also execution of the innocent people.

3. Victims were far more likely to be sentenced to death, than when the victims were black.

2 Questions:

1. Doesn't Stevens feel guilty about changing his mind after all those years?

2. If he were to work at the court again, would he have challenged other juries?

1 Opinion:

I also think death penalty is useless and cruel because killing them doesn't really do anything.

link: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/public-opinion-about-death-penalty

Vocabularies:

1. interim: intervening time

2. inmate: person confined to an institution.

IR Blog Post 1-NY times Fashion and Style

Tip, Tip, Tip

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/fashion/28Social.html?ref=fashion

3 Facts:

1. D.S.H. stands for Designated Scissors Holder.

2. Tips should be generally 15 to 20 percent for hairstylists and from $2 to $5 for shampooers.

3. Sometimes being honest to people who annoy you could be the best choice.

2 Questions:

1. Why is it so expensive to do hair? Is it really worth that much money?

2. Would these tips really work for most of the times?

1 Opinion:

I agree to tipping the hair stylists 15-20% but if the service is not great, I'm not sure if I want to be spending that much money on my hair.

link: http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

Vocabulary:

1. inundated: flood

2. sawbuck: a sawhorse

3. coiffed: woman's close fitting hat

IR Blog Post 1-NY times Books

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/books/29book.html?ref=books

A New York Tale of Art, Money and Ambition

The article is about a book called "An object of Beauty" by Steve Martin.

The main character is Lacey and in the article it is said that the readers may take in her character in ambiguous ways. The actions that she makes, and the words that she says can be taken in a naive way or a way that only the true bad people can see.

It is also said that the book has minimal narration so that Lacey is praised as the main character. The setting of the book is New York and it talks about how great, fabulous and clean the city is and this setting helps Lacey in her climb to become a better character.

Questions:

1. Why did Steve Martin chose to write such a complex and artistic book? Was there a special reason behind this?

2. What is Steve Martin's definition of "the object of beauty?"

Opinion:

I think the main character's personalities are very unique and strong, and that Steve Martin did a good job in choosing the character.

link: http://www.amazon.com/Object-Beauty-Novel-Steve-Martin/dp/0446573647

Vocabulary:

1. acquisitive: excessively interested in getting money, greedy

2. vicariously: experienced in other people's emotion or body.

Sharon's Blog Posts

http://www.politico.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/FashionandStyle.xml

http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/Books.xml

Do Now 11/19/10

I don't do too much reading online but if I do, I usually read headline news from google or yahoo. Also, I like to go into Korean websites to catch up on the new idol singers and stars that come out. Sometimes when I have current issue homework, I tend to look up a lot of stuff on the New York Times.